Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

RELEASE DATE Nov. 18

WHY WE CAN'T WAIT Even right after the release of the new book, it's impossible to get enough Harry, and we've been waiting a year and a half since the last movie.

THE PREMISE You know the drill: Hogwarts classroom high jinks, stirring hormones, a mystery for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, above) to solve, and a confrontation with Lord Voldemort (in the flesh this time, in the guise of Ralph Fiennes).

SOURCE J.K. Rowling's fourth Harry Potter novel

THE BACK STORY Thanks to the example set by Alfonso Cuarón's loose adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the filmmakers felt free to whittle Rowling's epic-length Goblet down to a manageable length. Gone are some favorite subplots, like Hermione's effort to organize the overworked house elves.

BURNING QUESTION Will Potter purists feel shortchanged by a Goblet that's not six hours long?

COME FOR Harry, Ron, and Hermione

STAY FOR Brendan Gleeson (Troy), as creepy new teacher Mad-Eye Moody

You Might Also Like

• DVD Review Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mar 07, 2006) | Ty Burr
• Movie Review Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Nov 18, 2005) | Owen Gleiberman
• All About Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Movie Commentary The 50 best high school movies: Nos. 40-36 (1963)
• Movie Commentary Get your hankie! 2005's saddest film moments (Sep 23, 2005) | Gary Susman
• Internet News Harry Potter on the Web: The best sites | Gary Susman